by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — Trainer Brian Brown and his ownership group had their eye on Spider Man Hanover long before he went through the ring at the 2014 Standardbred Horse Sale, so they were thrilled to purchase him. Especially for the price.

“We all really liked him and he was one of the top ones we wanted to bring home,” said Brown. “We loved his pedigree and then we were even more sold on him when we went to see him. We were prepared to go much higher for him as we thought he would go for at least $60,000, so we were very pleased we paid $40,000 for him. Actually we were in shock that’s all we had to give. The only reason I can think of that he didn’t go for more was he was on the smaller side, but he was very well built.”

The son of Western Ideal and the Art Major mare Stolly Up Bluechip will seek to become a state champion when he competes on Friday (Sept. 11) in the $350,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers. He will have the services of regular pilot David Miller in the ninth race on the card at The Meadows and will begin his mile from post position four. Owned by Country Club Acres, Kenneth Vaupel, Mike Mallett and Milton Leeman, Spider Man Hanover is the fourth choice on the morning line at 5-1 behind Check Six (3-1), Big Top Hanover (7-2) and Ideal Jimmy (9-2).

Chris Gooden photo

Spider Man Hanover has won three times in just five career starts, with earnings of $91,405.

There certainly is a lot to like about this colt’s family tree as his dam earned just shy of $200,000 during her racing career. His granddam, the Presidential Ball mare Stasia’s Girl amassed $142,774 on the track and she foaled another $100,000 winner in Cascata (American Ideal, p,1:51.2s, $145,414).

Spider Man Hanover is also a full brother to Stacia Hanover p,3,1:49.2 ($238,746), who was last year’s New Jersey Sire Stakes final winner and this year’s Shady Daisy champion. He is also a half-brother to Seashell Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere, p,3,1:51.4f, $99,245) and an unnamed American Ideal weanling colt.

“His family was what initially attracted our attention and then of course seeing how well his sister raced at two,” Brown said. “We knew he had ability right off and had high hopes for him right away.”

Spider Man Hanover certainly has illustrated his potential. He won his first qualifying race at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on June 10 and was second in his second trip to the gate over the same oval on June 19.

The colt made his career debut in a $30,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars contest at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on July 3 and was just out-finished for the triumph by the heavy favorite Allie’s Cruiser. He broke his maiden on July 15 at the same facility with David Miller at the lines for the first time in a $53,548 Sire Stakes event.

Then it was on to The Meadows on July 25 where Spider Man Hanover collected his second career win in a $43,548 Sire Stake. He followed that up by coming home eighth and last in an $81,113 Sire Stakes race at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Aug. 20. The colt rebounded, however, with his third career triumph on Sept. 1 at The Meadows in a $70,714 Sire Stakes race.

To date, he has banked $91,405, has a resume of 5-3-1-0 and a mark of 1:51.3f.

“You can just throw that one race out,” Brown said. “He did not race well at all and David suggested some things after he came back with him, so we put a jaw cord on him and it was very helpful. Right from the start he tended to get a little aggressive when it was time to race and we have tried different things to help calm him down as well as focused on what he was doing. But with the jaw cord and him beginning to learn his job, we think he is headed in the right direction. He could tend to be pretty grabby and the equipment change helps David control him a bit better. We anticipate that he will race well on Friday.”

After Spider Man Hanover’s championship engagement, he’ll begin his travels outside the Keystone State with Kentucky, Ontario and New Jersey on his itinerary.

“We would like to race him twice in Lexington and then we plan on taking him to the Breeders Crown,” Brown said. “His last race will hopefully be the Governor’s Cup. We like that it’s at the Meadowlands and think that will be a great spot to end his season.

“We really think a lot of him and are looking forward to how the rest of the year unfolds. He is not tremendously big, but he is well made and has the talent to be a very nice horse for us. We have high expectations for him and we think he will fulfill them.”

Below is the field for the $350,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final for freshman pacing males, with drivers, trainers and morning line.

1-Check Six-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-3-1
2-Manhattan Beach-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-8-1
3-Big Top Hanover-Dave Palone-Ron Burke-7-2
4-Spider Man Hanover-David Miller-Brian Brown-5-1
5-Yankee Artillery-Corey Callahan-Aaron Lambert-6-1
6-McDave-Andy Miller-Robin Cruise-10-1
7-Ideal Jimmy-Marcus Miller-Robin Cruise-9-2
8-JK Will Power-Tim Tetrick-Ron Burke-10-1